Closure for sheet-metal containers and art of constructing the same



July 6, 1926. y 1,591,184

H. s. REYNOLDS CLOSURE FOR SHEET METAL CONTAINERS AND ART OFCONSTRUCTING THE SAME Filed April 1, 1925 Emmnuuu.

"mummy INVENTOR I ers and the like, which is convenientl Patented July6, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,591,184 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY s. REYNOLDS, on NEW YORK,

COMPANY, INC., 01 NEW YORKfN.

N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 MEURER STEEL BARREL Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CLOSURE Eon SHEET-METAL CONTAINERS AND ART 0E coNs'rRUcTING THE SAME.

Application filed April 1, 1925. Serial No. 19,778.

This invention relates to closures for sheet metal containers such assteel barrels and an art of constructing such closures.

One of the objects of the invention .is to provide a practical andefficient art of constructing a closure for sheet metal containried onwith a minimum of steps an with inexpensive apparatus. -Another objectis to provide an art of the above nature whereby a sheet metal wall anda sput ring therefor may be joined so that they are rigidly anddependably interlocked against stresses -.tending to separate and loosenthem. An-

other object is to provide an art of the above nature in the carrying onof which the metal of the parts joined is not weakened and undulystressed by sharp bending or distortion. Another object is to provide adependable fluid-tight closure construction for sheet metal containers,such as steel barrels, characterized by strength and ruggedness andcapable of indefinitely withstanding the strains occasioned by roughhandling and repeated usage of the barrel. Other objects will be in partobvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and in the several stepsand "relation and order of each of the same to one or more of theothers, all

- as will be illustratively described herein,

. and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in thefollowing claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the variouspossible embodiments of the mechanical features of this invention,

Figure '1 is a vertical section of a ring or sputpositioned in a pair of.dies about to operate thereon;

Figure 2- is a top plan view of the ring shown in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the ring after bemg operateupon by the dies.

car-

i a pair, of dies adapted to operate thereon,

and r Figure 7 is a vertical section throu h the ring and sheet metaljoined by the ies of Fig. 5, together .with a sealing plug threaded intothe ring.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Referring now there is shown in Figures 1 and 2 a metal ring 10 which ispreferably substantially circular in shape and which is provided in itsupper annular surface with a downwardly extending annular groove 11. Theouter side walls 10 of the ring 10 at the upper to the drawing indetail,

outwardly substantiall as shown, sloping from the upper edge ownwardlyand outwardly and thence curving inwardly, the lower portion 10 of thering having ably an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter ofthe rounded upper portion 10*. The outer portion of the upper part ofthe ring comprises a substantially upright flange 12, having the .outerrounded surface 10* and an inner substantially vertical surface 12 whichforms the outer wall of the groove 11. The inner wall 11 of the groove11 is inclined, sloping outwardly toward its base. Preferably the flange12 is slightly higher than the inner wall of the ring, the purpose ofwhich will be later pointed out.

The shape of the metal ring 10, just described, -makes possible itsformation by drop-forging, and it is by this method that the ring ismade. This forged steel ring is distinctly advantageous since a ring offorged steel is far stronger than and not as brittle as a ring formed ofmalleable iron or other types of castings. Moredver, being made offorged steel the ring is far less exing process. After the ring has beenformed as above described, it is interiorly threaded with heavy threadsas indicated at 14:, to receive a plug. Herein lies another advantage ofthisring formed of forged steel, in

preferthat threads formed in a forged steel member are far more durableand stronger than the threads on a, member of malleable iron.

. The ring 10, having been forged and threaded as above described, isplaced in a supporting die 15 (see Fig. 1) which is recessed in itsupper surface to receive the lower portion 10 of the ring. Opposite thedie '15 is a movable die 16 provided in its face with a'recess 17 havinginclined side walls 172' The die 17 is now forced downwardly toward thedie 15, and the sloping wall 17 strikes the. curved outer surface 10 ofthe flange 12, bending this flange inwardly until its inner surface 12*,forming the outerwall of the groove 11, is substantially parallel to theinner wall 11 of the groove. The ring after operation thereon by the die16 is shown in Figure 3. The result of this operation is that the groove11 is transformed vinto a downwardly and outwardly inclined groove,while the upper portion of the outer rounded surface 10 of the flange 12forms a substantially horizontal seat 10 which is now the top surface ofthe flange 12.

Referring now to Figure 4. there is shown.

a sheet metal member 20 which represents the sheet metal wall of thecontainer for which the closure is being constructed. This sheet metalwall is placed between a pair of d1es18 and 19. The die 18 is'providedwith a central cylindrical projection or punch 18 'and the die 19 isprovided with a central 'about the circular cylindrical passage 19adapted to receive the projection 18*. \Vhen the die 18 is moveddownwardly, the edge of the punch 18 co- 7 acting with the edge 19 ofthe passage 19,

punches a circular opening in the sheet metal 20. Upon further movementof the die 18, the part 18 thereof forces the sheet metal openingdownwardly dragging it along the wall19 of the die member 19. This formsabout the opening in the sheet metal an upstanding annular flange or rim20 (Fig. 5). The surface 19 of the die 19 coacting with the surface18 ofthe die 18 forms from the sheet metal about the which is recessed toreceive the lower tion- 10 of the ring. The sheet metal wa l 20 flangeor rim 20 a substantially horizontal part 20. The surface 19 of the diemember 19 with the coacting surface 18 of the die member 18 form in thesheet metal a down wardly sloping part 20. The sheet metal exterior ofthe part 20 is flattened and kept in the proper plane by the coaction ofthe surface 19of the die member 19 and the surface 18 of the die member18.

The edge of the-flange or rim 20 is of a contour substantially that ofthe inneredge of the mouth of the recess when formed as shown in Figure3. The ring 10, formed as shown in Figure 3, is now placed,'as shown inFigure 6, ma supporting die member 21 is placed above the ring invertedwith respect to its position shown in Figure 5 and with the lower edgeof the rim 20 in registry with the mouth of the recess 11. Opposite thedie member 21 is a coacting die member 22 having formed in its face asubstantially circular recess provided with a flat upper wall 22 and acurved side wall 22 The die member 22 is now advanced toward the diemember 21, and the surface 22 thereof first strikes the horizontal part20 of the sheet metal, forcing the rim 20 downwardly edgewise into theinclined-groovell. As the flange or rim 20 is forced downwardly into thegroove 11 its lower edge slides along the inner wall 11 of the grooveand the lower mouth of the rim being enlarged by the wedging action ofthe inclined wall 11".

The die member 22 thus forces the rim 20 downwardly into the groovell-until-the lower edge of the rim substantially reaches the base of thegroove and interlocks with the projecting teeth 13, these teeth cuttinginto theedge of the rim. The surface 22 of the die member 22 now-comesinto action against the inclined part 20 of the sheet metal, wrappingthis part snugly down over the rounded or inclined outersides 10 of thering. The inward pressure of this surface 22 also forces the flange 12inwardly against the rim 20 in the groove 11, se-

curely clamping the rim 20 in the groove and interlocking therewith. Thesurface 22 By the met od described above, the ring 10 and the sheetmetal wall 20-are rigidly and dependably interlocked againstdisengagement. Ne1ther the metal of the ring northemetal of the sheetmetal wall is subjected to sharp or undue bending or distortion and thepossibility of cracking or breaking the metal is therebyavoided. Theteeth 13 interlocking with the edge of the flange or rim 20 positivelyprevents turning of the ring relative to the sheet metal when the plug23 (Fig. 7) is tightly and forcibly threaded thereinto.

Referring to Figure 7 there is shown the completed construction and theplug 23 in position therein, threaded into the threaded interior of thering 10. The plug is provided with an outer lateral flange 2 3 whichoverhangs the flat outer surface of the part plurality of lateralopening,

20 of the sheet metal. Between these parts may be inserted a packingring 24:. It will be seen that a positive and dependable fluidtightclosure is provided. When the plug 23 isthreaded tightly into place itsdownward pressure upon the surface 2O tends to even more securelyinterlock the flange 12 with the rim 20 of the sheet metal. The sealbetween the flange 23 and the surface 2O positively prevents leakage notonly between the plug and the ring, but between the ring and the sheetmetal wall.

The bottom portion 10 of the ring extends inwardly below the plane ofthe sheet metal wall 20. In order that the contents of the container maybe completely emptied through the ring 10, this lower portion 10 of thering is preferably provided with. a grooves 25 which extend thereintosubstantially to the plane of the wall 20. These grooves, as shown inFigure 1, are formed in the rin when it is dropforged at the first stepin its construction.

From the above, it will be seen that there is herein provided aconstruction and an art of making the construction which embody thefeatures of this invention and attain the objects thereof, includingmany advantages of the greatest practical importance.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features ofthe above invention, and as the art herein described might be varied invarious parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, itis to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. The herein described art of construct ing a closure for sheet metalcontainers, which consists in forming a metal ring member having in itsupper annular. surface a downwardly extending annular groove and in awall of said groovea plurality of spaced projecting teeth, forming inthe sheet metal wall of the container an opening and an annulardepending flange about said the-edge of said flange having acontoursubstantially that of the mouth of said groove, placing the edgeof said flange and the mouth of said groove in registry, forcing saidflange edgewise downwardly into said groove thereby forcing said flangeinto interlocking relation .with said projecting teeth, and forcingaside wall of said groove toward the opposite side wall thereof tosecurely clamp said flange therein.

2. The herein described art of constructing a closure for-sheet metalcontainers, which consists in forming a metal ring member having in itsupper annular surface an annular downwardly extending groove outwardlyinclined toward its base and a plurality of spaced teeth projectingupsaid flange inner wall of ing a closure, for

stantially Vertical surface,

having a contour substantially that of the mouth of said groove, placingthe edge of said flange and the mouth of said groove in substantialregistry, forcing said flange downwardly edgewise into said inclinedgroove,

being stretched and the mouth being enlarged by the inclined said groveand the lower edge of said flange interlocking with said spacedprojecting teeth, and forcing the outer porof said flange annulardepending flange the metal of the lower portion of tion of said ringexterior of said groove 1nwardly and downwardly against said flange insaid groove to clamp said flange therein. 3. The herein described art ofconst ructwhieh consists in forming a metal ring having in its annularupper-surface an'annular groove, the inner side wall of said groovesloping outwardly toward the base thereof:

sheet metal containers,

and the outer'wall of said groove comprising a substantially uprightflange having an mner substantially vertical surface, bending saidflange inwardly to bring said last sur face thereof into substantialparallelism with said inner sloping wall of said groove, forming in thesheet metal wall of said container an opening and an annular dependingrim about said opening, the edge of said rim having a contoursubstantially that of the inner side'of the mouth of said recess,placing the edge of said rim and the mouth of said recess in registry,forcing said rim downwardly into said groove along the inner slopingwall thereof, and bending said flange further downwardly and inwardly togrip said rim. 4. The herein described art of constructing a closure forsheet-metal containers, which consists in forming a metal ring having inits annular upper surface an annular groove, the inner side wall of saidgroovesloping outwardly toward the base thereof and the outer Wall ofsaid groove comprising a substantially upright flange having an outersloping surface and having an inner subbending said flange inwardly tobring said last surface thereof into substantial parallelism with saidinner sloping Wall of said groove, formmg; in the sheet metal wall ofsaidcontalner an opening and an annular depending r1m ing a contoursubstantiallythat of the inner side of the mouth of said groove, placingthe edge of said rim and the mouthof said groove in registry, forcingsaid rim downwardly into said groove along the inner sloping wallthereof, bending said flange further downwardly and inwardly to gripsaid rim, and wrapping the sheet metal surabout said opening, the edgeof said rim havrounding said rim over the top of said flange anddownwardly over said sloping outer surface thereof.

5. The herein described art of constructing a closure for sheet metalcontainers,

which consists in forming a metal ring hav: ing in its annular uppersurface an annular groove, the inner side wall of said groove slopingoutwardly toward the base thereof and the outer wall of said groovecompristainer an opening and an annular depending rim about saidopening, the edge of said rim lniving a contour substantially that ofthe inner side of the mouth of said groove,

placing the'edge of said rim and the .mouth' of said groove in registry,and then in one operation forcing said rim downwardly into said groovealong the inner sloping wall thereof, bending saidflange furtherdownwardly and inwardly lo grip said rim, and wrap 'iing the sheet metalsurrounding said rini over thi top of said flange and downwardly.

6. H lls-herein described art of constructin: a closure for sheet metalcontainers, which consists in forming a metal ring hav-' ing in itsannular upper surface an annular groove, the base of said groove havinga plurality of spaced upwardly projecting teeth, the inner side wall ofsaid groove sloping outwardly toward the base thereof and the outer wallof said groove comprising a substantially upright flange having an innersubstantially vertical surface, bending said flangeiinwardly to bringsaid last sur face thereof into substantial parallelism with said innersloping wall of said groove, forming in the sheet metal wall of saidcontainer an opening and an annular depending rim about said opening,the edge of said rim having a contonrsubstantially that of the innerside of the mouth of said groove, placing the edge of said rim and themouth of rim interlocking with said projecting teeth a in the base ofsaid groove, and bending said flange further downwardly and inwardly togrip said rim.

7. In a closure for sheet metal containers, in combination, a metal ringhaving in its upper annular surface a downwardly .extending annulargroove, and'a sheet metal wall having an opening therein and a dependingflange about said opening resting in said annular groove, the sheetmetal about said flange being wrapped downwardly over the upper portionof the outer side 'alls of said ring, said ring being interiorlythreaded to receive a plug and projecting downwardly into the containerbeneath the plane of said sheet metal wall, the lower portion of saidring having lateral grooves extending thoreinto substantially to saidplane to permit emptying the entire contents of the container throughsaid rinm- 8. In a closure for sheet metal containers, in combination, ametal ring having in its annular upper surface a downwardly ex-' tendingannular groove, the bottom portion of said groove being provided with aplurality of spaced projections formed integrally with said ring. and asheet metal wall having an opening therein and an annular dependingflange about said opening, said flange being forced downwardly into saidgroove and the edge of said flanges into interlocking engagement withsaid projeotions therein to lock said ring against tilrning relative tosaid sheetmetal, the side walls of said groove clamping said flange andthe sheet metal surrounding said flange being pressed snugly downagainst the upper surface of the portion of said ring exterior of saidgroove, said 'ring being interiorly threaded to receive a plum Intestimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 23rdday of March, 1925.

HENRY s. REYNOLDS.

